Hand-delivered hope...

November 28th, 2025

I hope your Thanksgiving was full of good food, good company, and good-natured repentance for that third piece of pie. We enjoyed an amazing meal, ate far more than any doctor would recommend, and shared plenty of laughter. And, of course, a few tears…when the Chiefs lost. (Some wounds are too fresh to discuss.)

But in between the mashed potatoes and turkey, the laughter, and the collective groan over the final score, our family carved (see that ?) out a moment that really mattered. We went around the table and told each person why we love them. We reflected on some of our favorite attributes of God. And we shared stories about His faithfulness, which brings us to Advent.

This week, we begin our new series, “God with Us.”

Advent is the season where we slow down enough to remember that God did not love us from a distance. He didn’t send a message or a memo or a blast from outer space.

He came Himself.

He drew near in the most unexpected way as a baby in a manger, in a quiet corner of Bethlehem, born into our world so He could bring us into His.

And this Sunday, we’ll start with a story that shows how God hand-delivers hope to a Samaritan woman from John 4:1-42.

If there’s ever been a story that could be made into a Hallmark movie, this is it.

Jesus intentionally walks into Samaria, a place no one expected Him to go, to meet an undervalued and overlooked woman. He sits by a well, starts a conversation that surprises her, and offers living water that changes her entire life. No distance. No hesitation. No hoops to jump through. Just Jesus… showing up.

So this week, as we reflect on the incarnation, we’re remembering that the same Jesus who sat by that well sits with us. He knows our stories, our past, our worries, our weariness, and He brings hope straight to us. Hope that isn’t fragile. Hope that doesn’t depend on our performance. Hope that is rooted in the God who stepped into human skin because He loves us far more than we can imagine.

So as we pack away the leftovers and move toward Christmas, let’s enter this season full of hand-delivered hope.

I would love to see you on Sunday for a service at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or on our New Life website at 9:15 am. Also, we would LOVE for you to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Have a great evening,

Troy